When Pittsburgh International Airport’s new landside terminal opened in November, journeyman electrician Keith Keller could take part of the credit.
The same goes for his work during construction of Consol Energy Center, now PPG Paints Arena.
“Keith’s had little jobs, big jobs, bigger jobs,” his wife, Barbara, said. “These are his two babies.”
Recognizing his dedication to projects of all sizes, the Mt. Lebanon resident has been named Hour Power Journeyman of the Year by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, a 135-year-old union with nearly 900,000 members in the United States and Canada.
He was honored at the IBEW’s annual Construction and Maintenance Conference in Washington, D.C.
Selection for the award takes personal character into account, as attested by Paige Becker, the apprentice electrician with Pittsburgh’s IBEW Local 5 who nominated Keller.
“He makes everyone smile and laugh on the job, spreads his optimistic attitude and will help anyone in need,” she wrote. “For example, my 5-year-old nephew has Stage 4 cancer, and even though they had their own grandchildren to buy presents for this Christmas, the Kellers still went out of their way to get him a gift.”
Ronnie Jones of Monroeville, a retired Local 5 member, shared a similar story.
“My mother-in-law had a tree in her yard that she wanted to cut down, and he came over and he did the job. Cutting trees down is no easy task, and he didn’t charge her,” Jones said. “Even though he’s across town, he’s still neighborly.”
As for his chosen profession, Keller grew up watching and assisting his brother, another union electrician.
“I never thought I’d do anything but electrical work, because I was 13 years old, holding the flashlight,” he said.
He entered a four-year apprenticeship program in 1981 and after completion became a journeyman, with capabilities such as working on projects independently, supervising other electricians and mentoring apprentices.
Becker cited his role as a mentor in her nomination:
“Keith is enthusiastic about shaping the future generation of electricians. He takes time to teach his apprentices the right way to do the job. I know the journeyman I become will be hugely shaped by all that I’ve learned from Keith.”
Keller served as Jones’ foreman when they worked together on the Consol project.
“A great cliché to apply to Keith is he goes above and beyond,” Jones said. “Also, I think what fits him is that he’s a loyal person. He’s definitely loyal to his job, and he’s loyal as a personal friend.”
The Kellers were married around the same time he started his apprenticeship, and Keith acknowledged Barbara’s contributions to his successful career.
“I couldn’t have made it through this journey without her 100 percent support all the time,” he said.
They have three children, all Mt. Lebanon High School graduates. Keith Jr. works at the 911th Airlift Wing, near the airport, and brother Josh is a supervisor at Lawrenceville machining manufacturer McConway & Torley. Daughter Krisa Franzetta is education director/special education director of Steel City Academies in West Mifflin, having earned her doctorate from Duquesne University.
“We couldn’t have been more proud that they were able to excel because of their education and get to that next level of their lives,” Barbara said.
Her husband’s IBEW honor included having a crew from Colorado-based Oswego Creative produce a video about Keith. Two days of filming featured trips to the Local 5 headquarters in South Side Flats and St. Bernard Church in Mt. Lebanon, where Keller is a eucharistic minister, assisting with communion.
“Keith is a man of faith,” his wife said. “That’s how he progressed in the union so well, because he has such a strong faith.”
Members of the video crew spent 10-plus hours the second day at the Keller home, with their equipment impressing Barbara: “Just like Hollywood, and I’m a big movie buff.”
Some filming, including the final sequence, took place in Keller ’s basement music room, showing him pursuing his pastime of playing guitar and piano.
The IBEW is a longtime Oswego client, and the company regularly puts together videos on the union’s annual award winners — the others are instructor and apprentice of the year — to premiere at the Construction and Maintenance Conference.
“We learn about them and we tell their stories, and we try to give the rest of the union a shining example of why this person deserves this award,” Oswego producer Chandler Stroede said. “Keith has certainly been a shining example of someone who’s built a fulfilling career of 40-plus years in
the IBEW, and it’s really impressive, especially now that he’s about to retire.”
The Kellers look forward to that day in June.
“To be able to walk away and have a pension in today’s world, it’s unheard of. And we have strong leadership to keep that all intact, which I’m very grateful for,” Keith said about his union. “It’s good to have that peace of mind.”
Barbara spoke emotionally about the conclusion of Keith’s career.
“This new milestone that we’ve anticipated for so long is coming, and it makes you think, I remember when he was that apprentice. And then he became a better apprentice. And then he became a foreman. And then he became a better foreman,” she said.
“I walked those steps with him. Maybe I didn’t go with him, but I walked those steps.”